NFPA 70B Compliance: What Property Managers Need to Know

If you manage commercial, multi-family, or industrial properties in South Florida, NFPA 70B is a standard you need to understand. It directly affects how you maintain your buildings' electrical systems, how you document that maintenance, and how exposed you are to liability when something goes wrong.

Here is what property managers need to know -- and what you should be doing about it.

What Is NFPA 70B?

NFPA 70B is the National Fire Protection Association's Standard for Electrical Equipment Maintenance. It provides detailed guidance on how electrical systems and equipment should be inspected, tested, and maintained to ensure safe and reliable operation over their service life.

Unlike the NEC (NFPA 70), which governs how electrical systems are installed, NFPA 70B focuses on what happens after installation -- the ongoing maintenance that keeps those systems safe year after year.

In 2023, NFPA 70B was elevated from a "recommended practice" to a full "standard," signaling a significant shift in the industry. This change means that NFPA 70B compliance is increasingly being referenced in insurance requirements, legal proceedings, and local building codes.

Why Property Managers Should Care

As a property manager, you are responsible for maintaining safe conditions in your buildings. Electrical system failures can result in:

• Fires that endanger tenants and destroy property
• Liability claims if an incident is traced to deferred maintenance
• Insurance complications -- carriers are increasingly asking about electrical maintenance programs and may deny claims if proper maintenance was not performed
• Failed building inspections, including the 40-year recertification required in Miami-Dade and Broward counties
• Unplanned outages that disrupt tenants and trigger lease disputes

NFPA 70B provides a defensible framework for demonstrating that you are meeting your duty of care. Following it does not just reduce risk -- it creates a documented record that protects you if questions arise.

What NFPA 70B Recommends

The standard covers a broad range of electrical maintenance practices, but several provisions are especially relevant to property managers:

Infrared Thermography Inspections

NFPA 70B specifically identifies infrared electrical inspection (electrical thermography) as a recommended maintenance practice for electrical distribution systems. Thermal imaging scans should be performed:

• Annually for most commercial and multi-family electrical systems
• More frequently for critical systems or equipment with a history of issues
• By a qualified Level II thermographer using calibrated equipment
• Under normal operating load conditions for accurate results

Condition-Based Maintenance

The standard emphasizes moving beyond reactive maintenance (fixing things after they break) toward a condition-based approach. Electrical thermography is a cornerstone of condition-based maintenance because it provides objective data about the current state of electrical equipment, allowing you to prioritize repairs based on actual conditions rather than guesswork.

Documentation and Record-Keeping

NFPA 70B requires that maintenance activities be documented and records retained. This includes:

• Inspection reports with findings and severity classifications
• Thermal images with temperature data
• Corrective actions taken and completion dates
• A maintenance schedule showing inspection frequency

This documentation is invaluable during insurance reviews, recertification filings, and any legal proceedings related to electrical incidents.

Building Your NFPA 70B Compliance Program

For property managers overseeing multiple buildings, here is a practical framework:

1. Inventory Your Electrical Systems

Document the electrical service size, age, and major components for every building in your portfolio. Prioritize buildings with:

• 400 amps or greater electrical service
• Equipment older than 20 years
• A history of electrical issues or tripped breakers
• Upcoming 40-year recertification deadlines

2. Establish an Inspection Schedule

Schedule annual infrared electrical inspection scans for all commercial and multi-family properties. Coordinate with your thermography provider to inspect multiple properties efficiently.

3. Choose a Qualified Provider

NFPA 70B compliance requires that inspections be performed by qualified personnel. At minimum, your provider should hold a Level II thermographer certification and have demonstrated experience with commercial electrical systems. A provider who is also a licensed electrician can identify and interpret findings in the context of the electrical code.

4. Act on Findings

An inspection report is only valuable if you act on it. Establish a process for reviewing findings, prioritizing repairs by severity, and tracking corrective actions to completion.

5. Maintain Your Records

Keep all inspection reports, thermal images, and corrective action records organized by property and date. These records demonstrate your compliance and protect you in the event of an incident.

The Bottom Line

NFPA 70B is no longer a nice-to-have recommendation. It is the industry standard for electrical equipment maintenance, and property managers who ignore it are taking on unnecessary risk. Implementing a compliant maintenance program built around annual electrical thermography inspections is one of the most effective ways to protect your tenants, your properties, and yourself.

Electrical Thermography Miami works with property management companies across Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties to implement NFPA 70B-compliant inspection programs. Every inspection is performed by a certified Level II thermographer and licensed electrician.

Call 786-712-8999 to discuss a compliance plan for your property portfolio.